Director Nakkina Thrinadha Rao delivered a massive hit with Dhamaka, starring Ravi Teja, which grossed more than Rs 100 crores. Now, the director is working on a smaller film, Mazaka, starring Sundeep Kishan and Rao Ramesh in lead roles. “I am comfortable with the story that I like, and I go with it,” says Thrinadha Rao.
Many directors wait for years to work with a big star, but Thrinadha Rao takes a different approach. “I don’t blame them for wanting to build their careers, but I follow my own methods. If I like a story, I go with it, even if it means working with new faces,” he shares.
Thrinadha Rao reveals that when he was making Dhamaka, writer Prasanna Kumar came to him with the storyline for Mazaka. “He only gave me a one-line idea at first, not the whole story. After I finished Dhamaka, Prasanna completed the story and dialogues. There wasn’t much for me to change, except for a few improvisations when we went to the sets,” says the director.
He further explains that the story was initially pitched to several people before finally being brought back to Rao Ramesh. “Prasanna had written the story with Rao Ramesh in mind. When we were looking for the lead actor, Sundeep Kishan agreed to take on the role, which was a great decision,” Thrinadha Rao adds.
When asked if the film shares any similarities with the Malayalam hit Bro Daddy, the director firmly denies it. “Our film is about a father and son, which may lead people to compare it to the Malayalam film. However, both stories are completely different, and there is no connection between them,” he clarifies.
The film is set to release today, coinciding with the occasion of Sivaratri. Thrinadha Rao is optimistic about the film’s prospects, noting that, much like the Sankranthi festival, Sivaratri also draws people to the theatres. “I believe it will have a good opening on Sivaratri day,” he says. He adds that the film blends fun with emotional depth. “If you look at all my films, there is always a mix of fun and values,” he explains.
In discussing Mazaka, Thrinadha Rao explains that the film centers on a father and son who feel they need a woman in their lives. “For every man, from youth to old age, there is always a need for a woman—whether it’s a mother, wife, sister, or someone else. In this film, both the father and son seek the same,” he says. Despite the film’s comedic tone, the last half-hour of the film is emotional. “I personally believe that every household should have at least one woman. A festival or a celebration feels incomplete without her presence,” he adds.
Anshu plays a key female role alongside Ritu Varma and Thrinadha Rao explains his choice of casting. “I wanted to cast an actress who was relatively unknown to the audience. When I saw Manmadhudu, I asked Prasanna about Anshu, but by then, she had already left for Hyderabad. After contacting her, we narrated the story over the phone. She had gone through my past films and agreed to take on the role,” he says. He emphasises that he made sure to be upfront with her about pairing her with Rao Ramesh in the film. “We wanted to make everything clear from the start,” he explains.
Looking ahead, Thrinadha Rao says he will continue to blend entertainment and emotion in his future projects. “One producer advised me that I’ve been successful so far because my films haven’t been rejected. I intend to continue in this direction unless I face rejection, in which case I will try to change my approach,” he shares.
For his first few films, Thrinadha Rao not only directed but also contributed stories. “Prasanna joined me as a dialogue writer for Cinema Chupista Mama and we’ve worked together ever since. I plan to write another story in the future. Many talented new writers are emerging and I liked a story written by Srinivas,” he says.
The director is also producing two films: Chaurya Paatam, a crime comedy and Anakapalle, a cult love story. Interestingly, Thrinadha Rao hails from Anakapalle, which is where the film is set. “I wrote the story nearly 15 years ago and always wanted to make it. It’s a small film, so I’m producing it with a new director and fresh faces,” he says.
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